Velocipede



spt.16,1941. L A. LA BlLLL l 2,256,052

VELOCIPEDE Filed DeC. 20, 1939 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented Sept. 16,1941 UNITED STATES PATET ortica VELQCIPEDE Joseph Alfred La Bille,Chicago, Ill. Application December 20, 1939, Serial No. 310,241

A4 Claims. y (Cl. 280-1.15)

be a riding type of vehicle but will also lend@ amusement andattractiveness in the use thereof in that the said device will be drivenby pedal-operated chain and sprocket connections with -power wheels andat the same time motion will be imparted to the legs of the animal andalso to the head and neck of such animal to render the same lifelike inthe use of the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter wherein the same is stored in a novel manner and the steerling is had by the turning of the head of the animative animal imagewhile the legs and feet of such image become active on the advancementof the device to make it appear as if the vehicle part thereof is beingdrawn by such image.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable andeifrcient in operation, assuring safety to the rider, being steered in anovel manner, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as Willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing; which discloses the preferred embodiment of theinvention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device ccnstructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof showing by full lines the normalposition of the head of the image and by dotted lines an adjustedposition of the same resultant from the steering of the device.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through thedevice.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view throughthe device.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through a coupling of the steeringmechanism of the device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the link andleverageconnections between the steering wheel and the legs of the image.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally thecombination horse and carriage amusement device or velocipede whichinvolves an animated image B and a vehicular equipment C, respectively,these being hereinafter fullydescribed.

.The imagerB comprises a sectional body frame, the sections beingvdenoted at I0 and II, respectively, and the latter is turnable withrespect to the section III, this being had through the medium of lavertically disposed pivot stem I2 of a steering wheel fork I3 in whichis journaled a front steering wheel I4. The pivot stem has xed theretothe section I I and is turnable in the front or forward end of thesection I0.

The sections I and II are interiorly of and have built about the same animage body I5, in this instance representation of a horse, and such bodyincludes a liexible neck portion I 6 made from suitable iiexiblematerial joined with the head I'I while pivotally associated with theAbody spectively, the pivots therefor being indicated at 20. These legsI8 and I9 are actuated to simulate trotting activity and such movementis imparted thereto through pivoted link and leverage connections ZI and22, respectively, between the same and a crank 23 which is a part of theaxle for the front steering wheel I4. The lever connection 2l is made intwo parts and joined together by the link 2I'. The ends of the link arebifurcated and into which extend the ends of the two sections of thelever and are held therein by the pivots 22 and 23', extending at rightangles to each other.

The upper end of the rod 2l passes loosely through the arm 24 so that itmay readily turn and yet be held against longitudinal movement. This arm2t is rigidly mounted on the shaft 25' of the pivoted links 22. Thelinks 22 are connected to the upper ends of the front legs I8 by meansof rods 26. The vehicular part C comprises a frame 2li having its foreend 25 iitting the stem I2 of the front fork I3 for the steering WheelI4 while the aft end of this frame 24 has journaled therein the poweraxle 26 carrying a pair of rear traction wheels 27, one being xed to thesaid axle 25 and constitutes the power or driving wheel of the device.

The frame 24 is equipped with foot pedals 28 which through sprocketWheel and sprocket chain connections 29 and 30, respectively, operate ordrive the rear axle 26 and the power wheel fixed thereto. In this mannerthe device is driven.

tended rearwardly in the directionv of the seat32 'Y to be convenientfor operation by an occupant or rider of the seat so'that the devicecanbe readily-V handled for the steering thereof inlthat thehead I1 ismanually turned with the neck |6 which swings the section IItransferring `turning 4motion to the stem I2 of the fork I3 resultinginthe guiding of the vehicle through its steeringwheel '1'4 in thel,desireddirection .when 'thevehicular vpart, ACis :advanced or Aonreverse travel thereof.

V.Rising from the frame 24 lis -a-rest 34, -vvhich `is-irhitative Yofthedash boardof a vehicleand permits of the placing of the yoke3'3thereonfor .the 4supported? r'the'same Vwhen not grasped by the handsof an operator of the vehicle or a per- Ysenoccupying'v the seat 32. Y

fins Yhasvbeen stated heretofore, the 'device' is vloperated throughApedal action and the travel thereof imparts activity to thelegs--IB and'-|9"of Y the image While `the'said devicel is steered through,manipulation'jfof ,the yoke A'33, Ythe head l1 'being V`jnirned--forthis-purpose and the exibility of `the neckiHV dores 4not vretard. orinterfere 'with 'the jturning of vthe @head [1lofthe image, which, as`statedgis `imitativef'ofa horse. The Vmotion of the/head H" and thelegsrl' and I9 ofthe image y V'effects aflifelike or,:animatedcharacteristic thereto.,

VWhai'fis'claimed is: Y Y Y 1.,A,1velocipe de comprising a sectionalbody frame, 'a steering fork connecting, the sections of'said frametogether and turnable by oneof Y saidjsections,animage built aboutsaidframe Yand having movable legs .andra flexible neck, thenlattervrmovablewithv the .turnable section,

a Wheeled vehicular part connected with the steering fork, a steeringWheel journaled in said fork, and means operated by the steering Wheelfor imparting motion to the said legs.

2. A velocipede comprising a sectional body frame, a steering forkconnecting the sections of said frame together and turnable by one ofsaid sections, an image built about said frame and having movable legsand a flexible neck, the latter movable with the turnable section, aWheeled vehicular part connected with the steering fork, a steeringwheel journaled in said fork, .means operated by the steering Wheelv forimparting motion to the said legs, and manually vdriven connections forone of the wheels ofthe K @and having movable legsr and a flexible neck,the Vlatter movable with the turnable section, a

wheeled vehicular part connected with the steering fork,1a steeringvWheel journaled in said fork, meansoperated bythe steering Wheel forimparting motion tothe said legs, manually driven connections 'for oneof the Wheels 0f the vehicular part,land a steering yoke for turning thesection of said frame having the exible neck 'fbuilttherewith r *"4.-Avelocipede comprising a sectional body frame, a steering fork connectingthe sections'iof said frame together and turnable by Vone of said`sections, an image built about said frame and -having movable legs anda flexible neck, the latter movable With the turnable section, a Wheeledvehicular part connected with the steering fork, 'a steering Wheeljournaled `in said fork, means operated vby the steering Wheel forimparting;A

motion "to the Asaid legsymanually driven con- Y 'nections for one ofthe Wheels of the vehicular part, a steering yoke for turning thesection of K4said frame having the flexible neck built therewith, and, arest included with Vsaid vehicular part for thersteering yoke.

Y. JOSEPH ALF-RED LA BELLE.

